John 8:1-30
She had ruined her life and now her life would soon be over.The prosecution is angry.They want her dead.Her Judge is chosen and she is set before Him.Surely He will agree with the prosecution and sentence her to death by stoning.She has no defense.Yet,the Judge doesn't seem to be listening to the prosecution.In fact,they have to keep asking Him to judge and sentence her.Finally He speaks,but instead of focusing on her crime and ruined life,He focuses on theirs.He tells them the one without sin in the prosecution can begin the stoning.She waits to feel the pain from the first stone as it hits,but slowly the prosecution leaves,until she is alone with the Judge.All of them are just as guilty and ruined as she is! Though surely the Judge will stone her Himself.He rises to His feet,and she can feel the fear rise within her.However,He asks her where the prosecution went and if there was anyone who still accused her.There is no one except Him.Then He says the most unbelievable words,"I don't condemn you.Go and sin no more."The Judge has wiped her record clean and is giving her another chance at a beautiful life.
This world is filled with prosecutors.People are all of the time suing other people and/or bringing charges against them.That's not necessarily wrong.We'd have chaos without right and wrong.Yet,people prosecute others not for justice,but vengeance.Their attitude is,"You've ruined your life,but you've also ruined mine and now you must pay."May I make an observation?All of our lives are ruined before anyone else has the chance to ruin them further.Sin ruins and can destroy our lives before anyone or anything else can have a chance to ruin them.We're just like this woman's prosecutors,pointing out people's guilt and condemning,when we're just as guilty as they.
Though the Judge is standing before us all right now,not to judge and sentence us,but to extend mercy.Jesus wants to wipe our records clean with the blood that He shed for us.The Judge paid our penalty! However,we have to accept Him as our Lord and Savior and His free gift of salvation.That's the only way He won't condemn us,and we can follow His command to go and sin no more,keeping our records clean before Him.
There has never been a Judge like Jesus,nor will there ever be one.He is the only Judge that has paid the penalty for the defendents,that will be brought to Him,and made a way for them to keep their records clean.Judgment day is coming for all of us one day,but we have the choice whether we'll stand before the Judge with a clean record or a record of crimes.It's not His desire to judge and sentence anyone.He created us,and therefore,loves us more than anyone or anything else can love us,but if we don't choose Him and His way of salvation there will be nothing He can do when we reach our judgment day.He'll be forced to judge and sentence.Sin can not be in the presence of a Holy God.That's why it has to go and we have to be holy as God is holy.Through him we can live a life of holiness and be declared innocent on judgment day.It is our choice to make.We decide the outcome of our trial.
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world through Him might be saved."John 3:17
"But as He who called you is holy you also be holy in all your conduct,because it is written,"Be holy,for I am holy."1Pet.1:15,16
Also,check out Lev.11:44,45;19:2;20:7,26.Seven times God's Word tells us to be holy as He is holy.The number seven is the number symbolizing perfection or completion.This signifies to me that if we want to be perfect or complete before God,we must be holy as He is.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Restoration After Repentance
Joel 2:12-32
Just like at this time in Joel,the church and countries of this world need to truly repent and turn back to God.We have seen the Lord's wrath already poured out and still being poured out in this country and all over the world.So often God is like a passive thought,if we even think of Him at all.We pray only when we're in trouble,if even then.Yet,if we want God's restoration in our lives,churches and countries,we have to come to God in true repentance.True repentance is coming to God with all of our hearts in complete brokenness with fasting,weeping,and mourning,allowing God to change our purpose and way of life.Then true restoration will come.God doesn't take pleasure in seeing lives,churches and countries ruined because of sin.It is His pleasure to restore and make beautiful again.
It is our job as Christians to sound out the call for revival and share the beautiful message of God's restoration with all people.Then and only then will we see God showing mercy on us and His wrath will be appeased.Our enemies will be stopped,the economy will improve,and things will get better in all areas.Now is the time to sound out the call for revival,Christians,no matter who you are.This passage of scripture ends with the prophecy that God will use all Christians to preach the Gospel to all nations.It is time for us to ban together and get the Gospel out.Only when people truly repent to God will we have the restoration we,our churches,and countries need.
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face,and turn from their wicked ways,then I will hear from heaven,and will forgive their sin,and heal their land." 2 Chron.7:14
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;and lo,I am with you always,even to the end of the age." Matt.28:19,20
Just like at this time in Joel,the church and countries of this world need to truly repent and turn back to God.We have seen the Lord's wrath already poured out and still being poured out in this country and all over the world.So often God is like a passive thought,if we even think of Him at all.We pray only when we're in trouble,if even then.Yet,if we want God's restoration in our lives,churches and countries,we have to come to God in true repentance.True repentance is coming to God with all of our hearts in complete brokenness with fasting,weeping,and mourning,allowing God to change our purpose and way of life.Then true restoration will come.God doesn't take pleasure in seeing lives,churches and countries ruined because of sin.It is His pleasure to restore and make beautiful again.
It is our job as Christians to sound out the call for revival and share the beautiful message of God's restoration with all people.Then and only then will we see God showing mercy on us and His wrath will be appeased.Our enemies will be stopped,the economy will improve,and things will get better in all areas.Now is the time to sound out the call for revival,Christians,no matter who you are.This passage of scripture ends with the prophecy that God will use all Christians to preach the Gospel to all nations.It is time for us to ban together and get the Gospel out.Only when people truly repent to God will we have the restoration we,our churches,and countries need.
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face,and turn from their wicked ways,then I will hear from heaven,and will forgive their sin,and heal their land." 2 Chron.7:14
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;and lo,I am with you always,even to the end of the age." Matt.28:19,20
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Passing Of The Mantle
2 Kings 2:1-18
Elijah's ministry was about over and he and Elisha knew it,along with many of the sons of the prophets.Despite Elijah's requests for Elisha to leave him,Elisha remained faithful by his master's side and didn't want the sons of the prophets to keep reminding him Elijah would soon be gone.It is uncertain why Elijah wanted Elisha to leave him and why Elisha didn't want to be reminded of Elijah's soon transportation to Heaven.Possibly Elisha was dreading Elijah's soon departure.Though he knew Elijah had served God long and hard and deserved to enter into rest,he still hated to see him go and would terribly miss him.Finally Elijah turns to Elisha asks him what is one thing he could do for him before he left for Heaven.Elisha's request was for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to fall upon him.That was a difficult request,but it was fulfilled when Elisha saw Elijah being transported.As he went up,Elijah dropped his mantle ,which was a sheepskin,sleeveless outer garment,at Elisha's feet.Not only did Elisha receive the double portion of Elijah's spirit,but also his mantle,to carry on Elijah's ministry.
This past weekend a mantle was placed in front of me as I said see-you-later to one of the strongest Christians I know.Grandma didn't just share the Gospel with people,but she lived it before them.Even before she died I knew it was possible that God would be calling her home in the near future.Though,like Elisha,I didn't like people telling me her time of departure for heaven was near.I believed God could still heal her on this earth,if it was His will.God made the right choice to take her.She deserved to enter into rest.However,her ministry doesn't have to end.She made a huge impact on my life and the lives of so many family members,friends and people she came into contact with.With her death the mantle of her ministry has dropped before us.Now we have the choice to pick it up and carry it on,not allowing her ministry to die.I have determined in my mind and heart to carry her mantle.
However,before I could carry her mantle,I had to accept Christ,receive the Holy Spirit in my life,and take up Christ's mantle,which is His cross.I did this when I was thirteen.So many people are trying to carry Christ's mantle or the mantles of dear Christians gone to Heaven,but without accepting Christ or His Spirit.Maybe at one time they had accepted Christ and His Spirit,but fell away and think they are still qualified to carry Christ's mantle and the mantles of others.Without Christ and His Holy Spirit,we are unworthy and unqualified to carry any mantles,including our own.So decide to accept Christ and His Holy Spirit today,if you haven't already done so,and pick up His mantle,the cross,dailyand follow Him.Then we are worthy and qualified by Him to pick up our mantle and the mantles of others He passes onto us.Though we must be careful never to put down His mantle,our mantle and the mantles of others He asks us to carry on,until we reach our heavenly reward.Then we will hear Him say the most glorious words,"Well done good and faithful servant.Enter into the joy of the Lord."(Matt.25:21,23)
"Then He said to them all,'If anyone desires to come after Me,let him deny himself,and take up his cross daily,and follow Me.For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." Luke 9:23,24
"Imitate me,just as I also imitate Christ." 1 Cor.11:1
Elijah's ministry was about over and he and Elisha knew it,along with many of the sons of the prophets.Despite Elijah's requests for Elisha to leave him,Elisha remained faithful by his master's side and didn't want the sons of the prophets to keep reminding him Elijah would soon be gone.It is uncertain why Elijah wanted Elisha to leave him and why Elisha didn't want to be reminded of Elijah's soon transportation to Heaven.Possibly Elisha was dreading Elijah's soon departure.Though he knew Elijah had served God long and hard and deserved to enter into rest,he still hated to see him go and would terribly miss him.Finally Elijah turns to Elisha asks him what is one thing he could do for him before he left for Heaven.Elisha's request was for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to fall upon him.That was a difficult request,but it was fulfilled when Elisha saw Elijah being transported.As he went up,Elijah dropped his mantle ,which was a sheepskin,sleeveless outer garment,at Elisha's feet.Not only did Elisha receive the double portion of Elijah's spirit,but also his mantle,to carry on Elijah's ministry.
This past weekend a mantle was placed in front of me as I said see-you-later to one of the strongest Christians I know.Grandma didn't just share the Gospel with people,but she lived it before them.Even before she died I knew it was possible that God would be calling her home in the near future.Though,like Elisha,I didn't like people telling me her time of departure for heaven was near.I believed God could still heal her on this earth,if it was His will.God made the right choice to take her.She deserved to enter into rest.However,her ministry doesn't have to end.She made a huge impact on my life and the lives of so many family members,friends and people she came into contact with.With her death the mantle of her ministry has dropped before us.Now we have the choice to pick it up and carry it on,not allowing her ministry to die.I have determined in my mind and heart to carry her mantle.
However,before I could carry her mantle,I had to accept Christ,receive the Holy Spirit in my life,and take up Christ's mantle,which is His cross.I did this when I was thirteen.So many people are trying to carry Christ's mantle or the mantles of dear Christians gone to Heaven,but without accepting Christ or His Spirit.Maybe at one time they had accepted Christ and His Spirit,but fell away and think they are still qualified to carry Christ's mantle and the mantles of others.Without Christ and His Holy Spirit,we are unworthy and unqualified to carry any mantles,including our own.So decide to accept Christ and His Holy Spirit today,if you haven't already done so,and pick up His mantle,the cross,dailyand follow Him.Then we are worthy and qualified by Him to pick up our mantle and the mantles of others He passes onto us.Though we must be careful never to put down His mantle,our mantle and the mantles of others He asks us to carry on,until we reach our heavenly reward.Then we will hear Him say the most glorious words,"Well done good and faithful servant.Enter into the joy of the Lord."(Matt.25:21,23)
"Then He said to them all,'If anyone desires to come after Me,let him deny himself,and take up his cross daily,and follow Me.For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." Luke 9:23,24
"Imitate me,just as I also imitate Christ." 1 Cor.11:1
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